#LifeBucketList: Meeting Reindeer

Meeting a live reindeer had not originally been on my life bucket list, but after yesterday it certainly SHOULD have been.  Yesterday, we went to an event with a social group around here and I had the opportunity to volunteer to help with photos of Santa and his reindeer.  What's interesting is that here in England, Santa does not seem to go to the malls, but instead goes to outdoor events like Christmas Markets, Tree Lightings, and other holiday gatherings...and brings with him live reindeer!

Seeing a reindeer up-close-and-personal was the highlight of the 2015 holiday season.  Yesterday I met Axel and Diesel the reindeer - they were 3 and 8. One was born in Sweden and the other in the UK - they live on a farm near Harrogate along with 50 other reindeer.  During Christmas, they rotate who goes out events.  They were most awesome - they were very gentle and spent the evening eating hay and letting any small child (or their parent) pet them.  The only thing they don't like is being petted on their antlers or head...so you have to pet their shoulder, back or belly.  Their fur was much softer than I expected and they were just such calm animals, they sat there waiting to be petted and didn't seem to notice the screaming and excitement of all of the children.  I loved them!  One other note - they had ginormous feet and apparently this helps them to swim (did you know reindeer like to swim and can swim 6/mph???).